schmahl



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. P. SOHMAHL.

FIRE LADDER.

Patented May 26, 1885.

N. PETERS. Phalo-Ulhugmpher. wasmmm n. c

(No Model. 4SheetsSheet 2. -P. SOHMAHL.

FIRE LADDER.

No. 318,660. Patented May 26, 1885.

(No Model. 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- P. SGHMAHL.

FIRE LADDER. No. 318,660. tented May 26,1885.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet; 4.

P. SGHMAHL.

FIRE LADDER.

No. 318,660. 6 d May 26,1885.

UNITED S'rarns Parent Garden.

PAUL soHMAnL, or BIBERAGH-ON-THE-RISS, WURTEMBERG, GERMANY.

FIRE-LADDER.

SPECIFIGATIGIT forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,660, dated May 26,1885.

Application filed December 16, 1584. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that 1, PAUL SOHMAHL, a citizen of Viirtemberg, residing atBiberachonthe-Riss, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFire-Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters orfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in extensible fire-ladders; andit consists in the means employed for leveling the frame-work thatsupports the ladder when the truck is standing on uneven ground,substantially as hereinafter fully described.

The invention further consists in the means for raising the lowerladder-section from which the other ladder-sections are supported,substantially as hereinafter more fully described.

The invention further consists in means for securing the ladder-sectionstogether, and for extending or raising and lowering said sections fromand on their support, substantially as hereinafter more fully described;and, lastly, the invention consists in certain details of constructionand combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a rear elevation ofmy improved fire-ladder. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, showingthe ladder extended for use. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the ladder.Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail View of part ofthe rear wheel-axle and the bolster that supports the rear portion ofthe truckframe. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the devices for locking therear part of the truck-frame against lateral oscillation. Fig. 7 is aface view, and Fig. 8 a side view, of a portion of the mechanism foradjusting or leveling the fore part of the truck-frame and locking thesame in position when adjusted. Fig. 9 is a detached detail plan view,showing the relative arrangement of part of the mechanism for elevatingthe ladder. Fig. 10 is a top plan View of a portion of the extensibleladder. Figs. 11 and 12 are transverse sections thereof, showing themode of securing the ladder sections and allowing them to slide one onthe other. Fig. l3is a diagrammatic view illustrating the mode ofextending the ladder-sections.

In the drawings,Vindicates the rear traincarrying wheels, and \V thelike fore trainwheels of the truck on which the ladder is mounted andfrom which it is supported.

The rear portion of the truck-frame consists of two uprights, ff, bracedat their upper and lower ends by cross tics or braces, said uprightsbeing secured to a bolster-plate or axletree, F, to which is alsosecured the bolster B, said parts being adapted to oscillate upon apivot pin or bolt, 1), that passes transversely through said bolster andplate.

The parts described are supported from the rear wheelaxle in thefollowing manner: The axle is formed in two parts, A and A, pivotedtogether at their inner ends at a, Fig. 5, and connected to the bolsterB by means of a link, Z). A spring buffer or buffers of'rubber or othersuitable material, 13, are interposed between the outer ends of thebolster B and the axle A A, so that the whole rear frame is adapted tooscillate laterally, the amplitude of this lateral oscillation beingadjusted by more or less compressing the buffers by means ofadjusting-bolts b To the outer ends of the beam B are pivotedrectangular lugs or dogs 0, held in position by means of a spring, 8,said lugs serving, when turned down and caused to abut against the headsof the bolt 0, to lock the bolster B and parts connected therewithagainst oscillation, said screw-bolt closing the orifice of thelubricating-boxes that contain the lubricant for the axle A A. In Fig. 5I have shown said dogs when turned down and locking the said partsagainst oscillation on the axle AA, and in dotted lines I have shownthem turned up to permit said parts to oscillate.

The object of arranging the rear truck-frame to oscillate on itssupporting-axleis to permit its being leveled when the truck-wheelsstand on inclined or uneven ground to give the ladder,when extended,greater stability and prevent all danger of its toppling over before itsouter end has been brought to bear on the wall of a building.

Theleveling of the frameis effected by means of the following mechanism:On each end of the bolster-plate F is secured a forked bearing, s, inwhich is mounted a transverse shaft, S, that extends from one standardto the other, which shaft carries on that portion which lies within thefork of the bearings a worm, D, that meshes with a screw-spindle, D,secured to the bolster B. This worm-gearing is so arranged that when theshaft S is rotated in the proper direction the rear truck-frame willswing or rotate on its pivot so that one side will move upward and theother downward, or vice versa. Instead of a worm-gear, bevelgearing maybe employed, as will be readily understood. The uprights f f areconnected by means of longitudinal girts f to like uprightsff of thefront portion of the truckframe; and in order to adapt said frontportion of the truck-frame to oscillate laterally with the rear portionthereof the hound H has a depending perforated lug, 72, through whichand a corresponding lug, r, projecting from a cross-bar, of the upperhalf of the fifth-wheel, projects a bolt, 0', on which said forward partof the truck-franie is free to oscillate. This latter portion of thetruck-frame is leveled automatically and simultaneously with the rearportion of said frame by the mechanism described, as said front portionof the frame will necessarily follow or partake of the lateraloscillations of the rear portion, and is guided in its oscillatorymovement and locked in position as follows: To the hounds of the lowerhalf of the fifth-wheel of the fore train of the truck is secured a ringor sixth-wheel, R, which ring is grooved or U- shaped incrosssection,forming atrack in which rest the ends of two raclcbars, E,said ends being guided by two arms, e, Fig. 2, secured to the usualtransverse brace or cross bar of the upper half of the fifth-wheel, thetwo halves of the fifthwheel being, as usual, connected with the axletree A by means of a kingbolt, which axletree is provided withguide-lugs projecting vertically therefrom over the periphery of thewheel R that rotates with the axle-tree on the king-bolt. The upper endsof the rack-bars mesh with toothed wheels G in such manner that theteeth or cogs thereof lie always in the same plane as the teeth or cogsof the rackbars. The wheels G have their bearings or studs (on whichsaid wheels are loosely mounted) secured to bearing-plates g, bolted tothe outer ends of the bolster H of the fore train truck-frame.

From the plates 9 project bearing-lugs G,in which is loosely mounted atransverse shaft, S, that carries cams or eccentrics E, arranged to bearon the rack-bars and force the same against the toothed wheels to locksaid parts against movement when the shaft S is rotated in the properdirection by means of the handle g, said bearing-lugs G serving asguides to properly guide the upper end of the rackbars. In this mannerthe entire truck-frame is rigidly locked when leveled or adjusted.

The extensible ladder l have shown in the drawings as composed of threesections, though it will be understood that more or less laddersectionsmay be employed.

L indicates the lower section, which is pivoted at Z to the truck-frame,and extends rearward of the pivot sufficiently to rest on the groundwhen in its greatest elevation. The rear end of this ladder-section isprovided with a framing or housing, Z, to prevent the other sectionssliding out when lowered on the truckframe, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,and it is also provided with a hand-rail, Z The ladder-sectionshland Nslide the formerin section L and the latter in section M, and arearranged as more plainly shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12, the sections L Mbeing each provided with iron clamps L M, those ing the laddersectionsM, and those M the ladder-section N.

Instead of arranging the guide-clamps on the sections L and M, as shownin Figs. 10 and 11, they may be arranged, as shown in Fig. 12, onsections M N, and the former as well as section L provided withguidegrooves Z W, in which the lower. outwardly-projecting angle or footplate of the clamp-slides.

The ladder is adapted to describe an arc of a circle of eighty degreeson its pivot, so that any inclination within this radius from a nearlyhorizontal line when lowered on the truck may be given to the ladder,which is erected and extended as follows: 0 O are two parallelguide-beams of substantially U shape, with their open portion facingeach other, the forward end of these beams being supported from theuprights f of the fore train-frame of the truck and the rear end fromthelower portion ofthe rear train-frame ofsaid truck. As shown, thebeams 0 have a curved portion, 0, said curved portion being on an arc ofa circle the center of which is that of the pivot of the ladder-sectionL on the truck-frame, or approxi mately so, said curvilinear portionterminating in a straight outer portion, 0. To a crosstie, q, forming aportion of the lower part of the rear truck, or to the axle-tree, issecured a bearing in which rotates freely the unthreaded foot of ascrew-spindle, Q,the upper unthreaded end of which rotates. freely in alike bearing secured to the upper cross-tie or brace, f of the foretrain truck-frame. The spindle carries at that end a gearwhecl, q,adapted to mesh with a gear-wheel the shaft of which has its bearings insaid cross-tie f and said shaft carries a crank, Q. Upon thescrew-spindle Qis mounted an interiorly-threaded nut, T, to which issecured one end of two connectingrods, 25, the other end of which issecured to the lower end of two fish-belly struts orsupporting-girts, U,whose outer end is pivoted to the outer end of the side pieces of theladder-section L. At their lower end the struts are connected by atransverse cranlcaxle or shaft, a, on the cranks of which are mountedIIO rollers a that are arranged to travel in the grooves of theguide-beams O O. The screwspindle Q is enclosed in a U-shaped beam, Q toshield it from dust and dirt, as plainly shown in Fig. 9, a portion ofthe beam being broken away. On rotating the gearwheel g by means of thecrank Q, the nut T is caused to travel along said spindle, carrying withit the lower end of the struts or supporting-girts U, thus elevating theend of ladder-section L, as will be readily understood. It will also beunderstood that no stop mechanism is required to hold the laddersectionat any given inclination, as the nut T cannot move downward except byrotating the screw-spindle in the proper direction. When theladder'section L is at its greatest elevation,the rollers 20 (shown indotted lines in Fig. 3,) stand in the horizon tal portion 0 of theguide-beams O, which support the ladder firmly. The guide-beams arebraced by means of a forked brace, O, the arms of which are connected tosaid beams, and the foot thereof, being provided with a roller, isstepped in the groove or way of the sixthwheel R, thus giving said beamsa firm support at the point of greatest strain under the weight of theladder when fully erected.

The extension of the laddersections is effected as follows: V is awinding-drum mounted in the upper portion of the rear train truckframe,to which one end of a rope, o, is secured. The rope 1) passes over apulley, P, attached to the upper end of ladder-section L, and its otherend is attached to the lower end of ladder-section M, as at m. A secondrope, 1), attached to the upper end of ladder-section L, as at Z passesover a pulley, 1?, secured to the upper end of ladder M, the other endof said rope 1/ being attached to the lower end of laddersection N, asat n, as more plainly shown in Fig. 13.

It will be seen that on winding the rope v on drum V said rope will drawon the lower end of the ladder-section M and slide the same out ofsection L. This outward motion of ladder-section M will cause the rope vto draw on the lower end of ladder-section N and slide the same out 011section M. When fully extended, the ladder-sections are, held in thatposition by the usual ratchet-and-pawl mechanism on the drum-shaft andtruck-frame, respectively, or other suitable stop mechanism to hold thedrum V against rotation.

To guard against accident in case either of the ropes 1) or 1) shouldgive way, any usual well-known or preferred stop or safety mechanism maybe employed.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a fire-ladder,the combination, substantially as described, with the truck-frame andthe bolster of the aft train of the truck, of a two-part aft train-axlehinged together and to said bolster, for the purpose specified.

2. In a fire-ladder, a wheeled truck from which the ladder is supported,composed of a v carriage having its rear train-axle formed in two parts,hinged together, and a truck-frame having its bolsters pivoted to thecarriageaxles, and in combination therewith, a leveling mechanism forleveling the frame on the carriage, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

8. In a fire-ladder, awheeled truck from which the ladder is supported,composed of a carriage having its rear train-axle formed in two parts,hinged together, and a truck-frame having its bolsters pivoted to theaxles of the carriage, and buffers interposed between the rear bolsterand its axle, and in combination therewith, leveling mechanism forleveling the truck-frame on the carriage, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

4. In a fire-1adder, a wheeled truck from which the ladder is supported,composed of a carriage having its rear train-axle formed in two partshinged together, a sixth-wheel having an annular groove formed in itsupper face and connected with the fore train,a truckframe having itsbolsters pivoted to the carriage-axles to allow said frame to oscillatelaterally, a leveling mechanism consisting of rack-bars and wormgearoperated by crank and applied to the aft truck-frame, and the rack-barsE, and toothed wheels G, said rackbars being stepped in the groove ofthe sixthwheel, said parts being arranged for co'operation,substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

5. In a fire-ladder, a wheeled truck from which the ladder is supported,composed of a carriage having its rear train-axle formed in two partshinged together, a sixth-wheel connected with the fore train, having anannular groove formed in its upper face, a truck-frame supported fromthe carriage and free-to -oscillatelaterally, andin combinationtherewith, a leveling mechanism for the fore train'portion of the framecomposed of rack-bars E, stepped in the groove of the sixth wheel andthe toothed wheels G,and a locking device to lock the rack-bars andwheels against operation, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

6. In a fire-ladder, a wheeled truck from which the ladder is supported,composed of a carriage having its rear train-axle formed in two partshinged together, a truck-frame supported fromthe carriage-axles and freeto oscillate laterally thereon, and in combination therewith, bufiersinterposed between the rear train-axle and bolster,a leveling mechanismfor leveling said frame applied to the fore and aft portions of theframe, and operated from the latter portion, and locking devicesconnected with said leveling mechanism and operating to lock the sameout of operation, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In an extensible fire-ladder, the combination, substantially asdescribed, with the carrying-truck, the truck-frame and a ladder pivotedat its lower end to said truck-frame, of an elevating mechanismconsisting of a sorew-spindle,a nut operating on said spindle, andconnecting braces connecting the nut with the upper end of the ladder.

8. In a fire-ladder, the combination, substantially as described, withthe rear wheelaxle formed in two parts pivoted together, and the reartruck-frame bolster connected withthepivot ofsaid axle by link andadapted to oscillate laterally, of bufi'ers interposed between the axleand bolster for the purpose 9. In a fire-ladder, thecombination,substa11- tially as described, of the rear wheel-aXle,theaft train truck-frame bolster adapted to oscillate laterally on the rearwheel-axle, and a locking-dog to lock said bolster against latera1oscillation,for the purpose specified.

10. In a fire-ladder, the combination, substantially as described, with.a wheeled truck and a ladder-section pivoted thereto at one end, of anelevating mechanism, consisting of a .wheel, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL SOHMAHL.

Witnesses:

FR. STAYZ, T. P. MARBEY.

